Malagacy jumping into Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday that Malagacy, untested in a pair of sprints at this meet to begin his career, will make his next start at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes on March 18.

Malagacy, by Shackleford, won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race by 15 lengths and a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming race by seven lengths.

“I was very impressed with his first two races and pleased with the way he is training,” said Pletcher. “I’m anxious to see what he can do stretching out since he is by a Preakness winner and has a good disposition, which makes him rateable. I feel the timing of the Rebel makes sense, and I like the way the weights are structured, which means he’ll get a good break in weight. And the race offers a nice purse on top of it.”

Another of Pletcher’s top 3-year-olds, Theory, is almost ready to return to action. Theory suffered his only loss in three starts at 2 when finishing far back in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“Right now, we’re pointing him for the Spectacular Bid,” said Pletcher. “We got a little behind schedule with him after he returned to us this winter from WinStar, and the race looks like a good place to start him back, timing-wise.”